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COUNTY’S WEB SITES BEING RECONSTRUCTED AFTER HACKER ATTACKS

COUNTY’S WEB SITES BEING RECONSTRUCTED AFTER HACKER ATTACKS

October 09, 2001

Hacking activities that compromised the security of Doña Ana County’s websites last week have resulted in the temporary shutdown of the sites until additional emergency security controls can be implemented.Hackers violated the county’s websites last Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001. The security breaches were quickly identified by information-systems personnel at New Mexico State University, through whose lines the county’s web lines are serviced.NMSU promptly notified the county and a decision was reached to disable the websites until additional security could be installed. Complicating matters, one of the county’s key servers crashed during the reconstruction effort, forcing county computer experts and consultants to rebuild data bases from backup files.According to County Manager David King, the county, in conjunction with NMSU, expects to restore full access to the websites as early as Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001. Restoration of access will primarily be of benefit to Realtors, title companies and surveying companies whose employees use the websites for property research.

“We recognize that having the sites down causes major inconveniences and impedes workflow for many of our constituents,” King said. “We’re working around the clock to restore access and guard against future breaches of security of the sort that led to this interruption of service.”

For more information, call county Public Information Director Jess Williams at (505) 647-7229. Residents calling from outside the Las Cruces area may call toll-free at 1-877-827-7200 and request extension 7229.